Belt for body weight control

Abstract

A belt for weight reduction having a buckle that fits over the abdomen and stomach, the buckle having one or more air bladders with pressure sensors, an air pump, and a massager. The air bladders are maintained at a constant pressure as signals from the pressure sensors activate the air pump to fill or deflate the air bladder. The constant pressure applied chronically to the abdomen reduces hunger and food intake to produce weight loss. Activation of the massager helps to further control hunger between meals.

1. A belt for weight reductions, comprising:
 a) a buckle having an air pump, one or more air bladders, and a power supply; 
 b) one or more pressure sensors for detecting pressure in said air bladder; 
 c) a microprocessor containing one or more software programs to operate said air pump using said power supply, said microprocessor using input signals from said pressure sensor to maintain a constant pressure in said air bladder using said air pump so that said air bladder compresses the stomach at a constant pressure, thereby reducing hunger and food intake; 
 d) a massager having a motor, said massager actively massaging the abdomen and stomach in response to signals from said microprocessor, thereby reducing hunger; and 
 e) a tension wheel having a motor, said tension wheel pulling said belt into said buckle in response to signals from said microprocessor, thereby increasing tension in said belt. 
 
   
   
     2. A belt for weight reduction, comprising:
 a) a buckle having an air pump, one or more air bladders, a massager, and a power supply; 
 b) a pressure sensor for detecting pressure in said air bladder, said power supply activating said air pump in response to signals from said pressure sensor in order to maintain a constant pressure on the stomach thereby reducing hunger and food intake, said power supply activating said massager to vibrate or oscillate or both, to massage the abdomen and stomach, thereby reducing hunger; and 
 c) a tension wheel, said tension wheel pulling said belt into said buckle in response to signals from said power supply, thereby increasing tension in said belt. 
 
   
   
     3. A method of reducing hunger and food intake to produce weight reduction, comprising:
 a) placing a belt around the waist, said belt having a buckle over the abdomen; 
 b) inflating or deflating one or more air bladders between said buckle and the abdomen to produce a constant pressure against the stomach; and 
 c) adjusting the tension of said belt to facilitate the production of said constant pressure against the abdomen and stomach, wherein the tension is adjusted by a tension wheel operable to pull said belt into said buckle. 
 
   
   
     4. The method of  claim 3 , further comprising massaging the abdomen and stomach by activating a massager placed between said belt and the abdomen. 
   
   
     5. The method of  claim 4  wherein the step of inflating or deflating one or more air bladders is produced by an air pump regulated by one or more pressure sensors in said air bladders. 
   
   
     6. The method of  claim 5  wherein said air pump is regulated by a microprocessor, said microprocessor responding to signals received from said sensors. 
   
   
     7. A belt for weight reduction, comprising:
 a) a buckle; 
 b) an air bladder; 
 c) an air pump for inflating said air bladder; 
 d) a pressure sensor for detecting pressure in said air bladder; 
 e) a tension wheel; 
 f) a power supply operatively connected to said air pump and said tension wheel; and 
 g) a microprocessor operatively connected to said air pump, said pressure sensor, said tension wheel, and said power supply, wherein said microprocessor receives input signals from said pressure sensor and maintains substantially constant pressure in said air bladder by operating said air pump to inflate said air bladder so that said air bladder compresses the stomach at a substantially constant pressure and by operating said tension wheel to pull said belt into said buckle thereby increasing tension in said belt. 
 
   
   
     8. A belt according to  claim 7  further comprising a massager, wherein said microprocessor is operable to activate said massager to massage the abdomen and stomach, thereby reducing hunger. 
   
   
     9. A method of reducing hunger and food intake to produce weight reduction, comprising:
 a) placing a belt around the waist, said belt having a buckle positioned over the abdomen; 
 b) adjusting the tension of said belt to achieve a desired pressure against the abdomen and stomach; 
 c) inflating or deflating an air bladder between said buckle and the abdomen to substantially maintain said desired pressure against the stomach; and 
 d) massaging the abdomen and stomach by activating a power-driven massager placed between said buckle and the abdomen. 
 
   
   
     10. The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the step of inflating or deflating said air bladder is produced by a power-driven air pump regulated by a pressure sensor in said air bladder. 
   
   
     11. The method according to  claim 10 , wherein said air pump is regulated by a microprocessor, said microprocessor responding to signals received from said pressure sensor. 
   
   
     12. The method according to  claim 9 , wherein said massager is regulated by a microprocessor.